The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-05-18
NEITHER NORTH NOR SOUTH.
Senator Sherman's Tardy Recognition Of
the Truth That "the Bloody Chasm"
Should Be Bridged By All Patriots.

Senator sherman's Tardy Recognition Of
the Truth That "ths Bloody Chasm''
Should Be Bridged by All Patriots
In speaking of Senator Sherman's
Nashville speech we quoted some of the
passages in which he did justice to the
sincerity of the views held by the Con-
federates, and to the courage with
which they maintained them in the
field. There was no fling of rebel or
traitor or slave-driver. The war, he
said. was perhaps sure to come. 1t was
a terrible necessity. Then he ak
claimed: at Is over, thank God! bet
the courage. bravery and fortitude OF
both sides are now the pride and hertz
age of us all" This was in the spirit
of Mr.. Summers bill to regulate the
army register and the regimental
colors, of which the preamble was as
follows: "Whereas the National unity
and good will among fellow-citizens
can be assured only through oblivion
of past differences, and it is contrary
to the usage OF civilized nations to per-
petuate the memory Of civil war, be it
enacted" etc. That was in 1872. The
bill prohibited the continued printing
in the register of ''the names of bat
ties with fellow-citizens, or placing
them upon the regimental colors OF the
United States.
The late letter of President Cleve-
land acknowledging the invitation to
attend the unvailing of the statute of
General Albert Sidney Johnston was
in the same tone as the remarks of
Senator Sherman and the preamble of
Senator Summer. It was magnan-
imous appeal to the vi stor to recognize,
not the righteousness of the cause, but
the sincerity and courage of the van
pushed, and it came from those who
shared the defeat, but who have ac-
quiesed honorably and entirely In the
final decree of battle. The Presidents
reception of the appeal was honorable
and becoming, and unquestionably his
conduct is approved by the country.
1.-THE courage, bravery. and fortitude
of both Sides" says Senator Sherman,
"are now the pride and herita &c
of us ALL" 1.-THE patriotic SEN
timents accompanying the invita-
ton which have received. and the
fraternal feeling therein expressed, ]
gladly recognize as proofs that in the
present conditions every American citi-
zen may share in the pride inspired by
the illustration of the traits which have
ennobled American character" aays
President Cleveland. This was the
proper response, dignifed, just pa
triotic, not honoring the cause in which
the soldier fought, but the honesty and
the bravery with which he gave his life
for his convictions. It is the same no.
bic feeling which led Southern soldier
to say at the dedication of a statue te
the "Union Volunteer when the
orator said that the time would come
when the soldier in gray would agree
that the boy in blue fought and dice
for the South as well as the North
Don't say will come for it ha.
| come"
The disappearance of mere rancorou.
memories of the war, not grateful &C
acknowledgements of its earnest purpos.
and its glorious result, but reiteratior
of its details and horrors and enmities
is one of the most significant and graf
flying facts of the time. The anniver
sary of Lees surrender passed a few
days since without remark and withou
general remembrance. The hero o
the Union army, General Grant him
self, led in this humane and honorabl,
conduct toward his opponents in thu
field. His generous terms at Apo
mattox were never forgotten. and they
struck the keynote of the feeling o
the actual soldier of the war on boil
sides. His last words in the dedica
ton of his Memoirs, "These volumes
are dedicated to the American soldier
and sailor" not to any class of them
but to every sincere and courageous
American in the military or naval serv
ice, showed what is otherwise vel
known, the simple magnanimity of tn
great Union General. Such incident
as these are among the most precious
and significant which History will
gather into her 'golden urn, and the,
are among the chief reasons of loft,
National pride.-Horper's Weekly.